Edge-to-Edge Floor Tile Connection Device with Integrated Guide Bar
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor and wall covering systems face challenges in resisting heavy loads, maintaining aesthetics, and ensuring easy installation and sealing, as previous connection devices lack durability, complicate manufacturing, and fail to compensate for slab contraction or expansion.
Innovation Solution
A connection device featuring a planar body with a central part and hollowed-out peripheral parts, a projecting bar for joint formation, and elastomeric surface parts for sealing, which allows for robust and aesthetically pleasing assembly of slabs or strips, facilitating installation and accommodating thermal changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If simple ring connection devices are used to connect gratings, then installation is facilitated, but traffic resistance is low and heavy loads cannot be supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the connection device with guide bars into a single integrated T-shaped component. The guide bars provide structural strength to support heavy loads and castors, while the integrated connection device maintains ease of installation. This merging resolves the contradiction by making the connection device strong enough for heavy traffic while keeping installation simple.
2Strength
If dovetail assembly means and grooves are machined into tiles, then resistance to heavy loads is improved, but manufacturing is complicated and the surface appearance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex dovetail and groove machining operations from the tile manufacturing process and relocates them to the separate guide bar component. The tiles maintain their simple rectangular shape and smooth surfaces, while the guide bars contain all the complex geometric features needed for strong connections. This extraction resolves the contradiction by preserving tile simplicity and manufacturability while achieving heavy load resistance through the guide bars.
3Ease of operation
If connection devices are used without sealing elements, then installation is simpler, but sealing is insufficient and contraction/expansion causes deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding sealing elements only at specific locations where tiles connect to the guide bars, rather than throughout the entire structure. The sealing elements are positioned precisely at the interfaces where sealing is needed to prevent water ingress and accommodate thermal movement. This localized approach maintains installation simplicity while providing reliable sealing where required.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a connection device (1) for at least two adjacent tiles (2) or planks positioned edge to edge of a floor or wall covering; the device (1) is intended to be positioned in complementary grooves (5) formed from an upper or lower face of the tiles (2) or planks and in a part of their thickness; the device (1) is in the form of a flat body comprising a central part (3) connected to at least two peripheral parts (4), distinct from each other and arranged on either side of the central part (3); the peripheral parts (4) are hollowed out to receive, by insertion, a part of the thickness of the tiles (2) or planks when connecting said tiles (2) or planks.and the central part comprises a bar (9) projecting orthogonally from the body and extending longitudinally with each end of the bar (9) overhanging the central part (3) so as to form a joint portion between the slabs (2) or blades.